If you want someone to be disciplined and sit back, making tackles and shielding the defence, he's good. His passing certainly isn't his strongest suit, but he's aware of it so is mostly happy to play the simple ball, keep you in possession and allow more creative players the chance to do something. Unfortunately, we don't have the creative players to do something. I wouldn't go so far as to call him a one-trick pony, but he plays a certain role very well, and if it's not the kind of thing your team want then he's not worth bothering with. I'd like to keep him though, although it would depend who was available as a replacement.
Carrabuh. You have just made me spit my brew all over my screen at that remark Rep will be on it's way. Brilliant
I hope this is not true, unless the manager is lining up a better player of course. I can see why laudrup would want a tough tackler there, their midfield like passing a lot. i'd have thought the Ki guy would tackle a bit though
why are people still wanting to play 2 DMs? this has been our downfall all season, not allowing for a more attacking mid-field means that our striker(s) get isolated. one, good DM is all that is required, and Johnson, nor Tetty, is not that player. if Swansea want Johnson, then we should sell and upgrade.
I think it's a combination of believing Hughton will persist with this formation, and seeing how it works for other teams. 4-2-3-1 is pretty common nowadays, but we haven't quite got the quality in the "2" to get the balance between attack and defence correct. If you play players where they want to be, you'd put Tettey and Johnson there. Both are strong in the tackle and good at playing the simple stuff, and Tettey seems more comfortable going forward with the ball at his feet too. But neither have the range of passing that stronger teams typically have in that position. If we can add someone who can function more as a deep-lying playmaker, someone with creativity and the ability to play balls other players wouldn't think of/take on, then we can stretch defences more. It should also hopefully make us better at holding onto the ball in more advanced positions, and in breaking through defences.
True, and I would have liked to see more of him this season, but I guess Hughton thinks he's not the tough-tackling type we need. I guess if we brought in someone even better at the tackling side of it, Hughton might reconsider and Fox might be in with a shout.
Bridcutt! MOTM performance tonight in the play off semi against a decent Palace side. Ran midfield in the first half and some of the second. Great passing ability.
I saw Shef Wednesday vs Brighton live earlier in the season, he really was a cut above everyone else, very impressed. Sometimes he doesn't look like he's doing a lot, but he was always exactly where he needed to be, and helped keep things ticking over. Unfortunately when I saw them, Wayne Bridge got sent off super early and Brighton were 2-0 down by Half time, so he got sacrificed at the break for Mackail-Smith. I don't think it was the smartest of decisions as Brighton promptly lost the midfield and lost 3-0. (I think)
